Hariri Resigns: Lebanon's Prime Minister quits the post
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned from his post Saturday during a trip to Saudi Arabia in a surprise move that plunged the country into uncertainty amid heightened regional tensions.
Hariri's resignation follows an assassination attempt on his life a number of days ago, Al Arabiya has reported. According to the report, the attempt took place in Beirut but was thwarted.
In a televised address from Riyadh, Hariri fired a vicious tirade against Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah group for what he said was their meddling in Arab affairs and said "Iran's arms in the region will be cut off."
"The evil that Iran spreads in the region will backfire on it," Hariri said, accusing Tehran of spreading chaos, strife and destruction throughout the region.
Hariri was appointed prime minister in late 2016 and headed a 30-member national unity cabinet that included the Shi'ite militant Hezbollah. The government has largely succeeded in protecting the country from the effects of the civil war in neighboring Syria.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun will ask Hariri to remain in his position until a replacement is found and is tasked with forming a government. In a statement, the presidential office said Aoun was informed by Hariri in a phone call of his resignation.
According to the Lebanese constitution, that person has to be a Sunni Muslim.
The country is sharply divided along a camp loyal to Saudi Arabia, headed by the Sunni Muslim Hariri, and a camp loyal to Iran represented by Hezbollah. President Aoun, who was elected in October 2016 after more than two years of presidential vacuum, is a close ally of Hezbollah.